Meet Chris Lillis

In a world where healthcare often seems mired in bureaucracy and bottom lines, Dr. Chris Lillis stands apart. His journey from wide-eyed medical student to seasoned healthcare innovator isn't just a career path - it's a roadmap for those daring to reimagine a broken system.

Sitting down with Dr. Lillis, I was drawn into a story of relentless optimism, purpose and strategic advocacy. I discovered a physician who has not only navigated the complexities of modern healthcare but is actively working to transform it from within. This is the story of how one doctor's ongoing quest for better patient care became a mission to heal the very system designed to heal us all.

A Calling from Kindergarten

From the moment young Chris Lillis first declared his intention to become a doctor in kindergarten, it was clear that medicine wasn't just a career choice - it was a calling. Despite having no physicians in his family, Chris felt an inexplicable pull towards the world of healing and helping others.

"I don't shy away from terming it a calling," Chris reflects, his voice tinged with a mixture of humility and conviction. "I think it was a calling. Very early on, I was drawn to wanting to help and wanted to heal."

As Chris grew older, his passion for medicine only intensified. The human body, with all its intricacies and mysteries, became a source of endless fascination. "There's nothing more fascinating to me than going through things like gross anatomy or physiology and understanding how the human body works," he explains.

But for Chris, medicine wasn't just about the science - it was about the human connection.

As Chris entered medical school, he was certain of one thing: he wanted to be a paediatrician. His experiences as a camp counsellor had instilled in him a love for working with children. However, life had other plans.

"When you get to medical school and you see kids who have cancer, all of a sudden you're like, wait, I can't do this. I can't bear witness to children suffering," Chris recalls. This realisation led him to pivot towards adult medicine, finding it easier to cope with illness in those who could better understand their circumstances.

But the journey of self-discovery wasn't over. Chris briefly flirted with the idea of orthopedic surgery, drawn by his love for sports. Yet, as he delved deeper into the specialty, he found it didn't satisfy his curiosity about the broader aspects of medicine.

This realisation led him to gravitate towards primary care, a field that would allow him to explore the full spectrum of medical knowledge.

Recognising a Broken System: The Path to Advocacy

As Chris settled into his role as a primary care physician, he found himself increasingly aware of the systemic issues plaguing the American healthcare system. "I think there's a growing chorus of folks out there that recognise how broken the American healthcare system is," he shared.

This awareness led Chris down an unexpected path: legislative advocacy.

This new avenue opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for Chris, exposing him to aspects of healthcare he had never considered before.

This foray into advocacy wasn't just a side project for Chris—it was a catalyst that would drive his career in new directions. As he spoke about his experiences, I could sense the passion in his voice and the realisation that he could make a difference not just one patient at a time but on a much larger scale.

As our conversation deepened, I grappled with a question that I suspected many healthcare professionals face: How does one deal with the gap between the changes they want to make and the reality of what's possible within their organisation?

The Philosophy of Incremental Change

Chris leaned back, his eyes reflecting years of experience navigating this very challenge. "Yeah, I think there are several philosophical answers," he began, his voice thoughtful. “One is that I realise you need to keep a good perspective that slow changes are incremental so being focused on the long game is so much more valuable than day-to-day challenges."

"I think if you're hyper-focused on day-to-day challenges, it can be incredibly discouraging," he continued. "The other piece again is kind of that gratitude piece. Celebrate the small wins that if you're really disciplined about looking for them, it can give you the fuel you need to fight the next fight."

As Chris spoke, I could see how this approach had sustained him through years of working towards change in a system often resistant to it. His words reminded me of the importance of resilience and perspective in any long-term endeavour.

"If the chasm is as you describe it—I love that you just put it that way—that can be very discouraging," Chris admitted.

Beyond Limitations: Finding Levers of Influence

I wondered aloud if part of this approach involved a reality check about the extent of change one person can create. Chris's response surprised me.

"My short answer is no," he said firmly. “My longer answer is to understand what levers you have at your disposal to influence change and find levers elsewhere."

Chris went on to explain his approach. "There might be a situation where, as you dissect a problem, you understand that this is a problem that needs to happen at the level of the health insurance company. And I don't work for a health insurance company. So what communication can I engage with that health insurance company to bring awareness to the potential problem and solutions?"

Chris wasn't content to simply accept limitations; instead, he sought ways to extend his influence beyond his immediate sphere.

"Often, in healthcare, some of these problems require a legislative solution," Chris continued. “And so, whether working within a company's advocacy infrastructure or even as a private citizen, how can I engage with my legislators to raise awareness and flag issues that are causing harm?"

Chris emphasised the importance of effective communication in advocacy work.

Community Organising: Expanding Spheres of Impact

As Chris spoke, I found myself reconsidering my understanding of advocacy and change. It wasn't about drawing lines in the cement or accepting limitations. Instead, it was about having a full awareness of where the areas of influence and change are, and then deciding strategically when and how to tackle each issue.

Chris nodded as I summarised his approach. "Yeah, it's the basics of community organising," he confirmed. He then shared how he had been exposed to visionaries in this field, including Marshall Ganz, a professor at Harvard who teaches community organising, and Don Berwick, former administrator for CMS who built the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

"IHI is essentially community organising to improve what's broken in healthcare," Chris explained. "So it's still one of my favourite conferences to go to every year, getting a dose of inspiration from Dr. Berwick and understanding how different campaigns are taking root locally and then spreading, and how do we share those best practices so that even if we only have a small sphere of influence, how do we expand that sphere of influence through networking and communication?"

The Path to Clinical Leadership

As Chris's advocacy work deepened his understanding of healthcare systems, he found himself drawn towards formal leadership roles. The transition, as he described it, was a blend of patience, demonstrated competence, and seizing the right opportunities.

"The first step is to demonstrate yourself as a competent clinician," Chris explained. "I was practicing medicine for 10 years before my first clinical leadership opportunity."

He went on to describe a pivotal move in his career, from private practice in Virginia to an academic group in California. "I expressed very upfront, because of the legislative experience I had, that I was interested in clinical leadership positions," Chris recalled. "And the message I got was very appropriate. It was: show us that you are a great clinician. And when leadership opportunities open up, you can put your hat in the ring."

After demonstrating his clinical competence, an opportunity arose that aligned perfectly with Chris's unique blend of clinical expertise and advocacy experience. Chris's first leadership roles were as medical director, one overseeing a patient-centred medical home program across 17 primary care sites and another managing a state-level program focused on improving care for underserved populations.

"A position opened up, and a lot of the subject matter expertise that was needed for this position actually dovetailed nicely with my legislative advocacy experience," Chris explained.

From understanding complex regulations to advising on clinical offerings, from teaching clinicians to analysing quality metrics, these positions pushed Chris to expand his expertise in multiple directions.

"That was my first exposure to clinical informatics," Chris reflected. "Which made me realise just how dependent we are on software and analytics in the healthcare field. So that was it, all these little rabbit holes that open up that you don't expect, and then you start digging down the rabbit holes, you learn more and more, and you realise just how impactful these things are."

This insatiable curiosity, this drive to understand systems deeply, seemed to be a defining characteristic of Chris's approach to leadership. 

Balancing Leadership and Clinical Practice

As Chris advanced in his leadership roles, he made a conscious decision to continue seeing patients. "I don't think it's wise to ever be fully removed from clinical care because clinical care is part of what gives us validity as a clinical leader," he explains.

This commitment to maintaining a clinical practice while taking on leadership responsibilities created a unique challenge. Chris found himself constantly balancing administrative duties with patient care, but he viewed this as a strength rather than a burden.

"When you take care of patients in the system you're leading, you've got a front row seat to what's going and what's not going well," Chris says, emphasising the importance of staying connected to the realities of frontline healthcare.

Embracing Innovation: Advising Health Startups

As Chris's career continued to evolve, he found himself drawn into the world of healthcare innovation. Health startups began reaching out, seeking his expertise and insights.

"And so it went as health startups reached out and said we could use some advice," Chris explained. "All of a sudden, that stimulates all sorts of intellectual curiosity and excitement, and so then I follow those threads when they present themselves."

I couldn't help but wonder how he managed to choose between the myriad opportunities that came his way. With only 24 hours in a day and finite energy, how did he distinguish between his yeses and nos?

Chris chuckled, acknowledging the challenge. "Yeah, that can be hard because I think traditionally I've not been great with saying the word 'no'," he admitted. "But what ends up happening is things organically come to pass. So I mentioned that right now, I'm working with three different startups. If you ask me a month and a half ago, it was five. But two of them just really fell by the wayside because their business plans weren't very mature when they were brought to my attention."

His approach, I realised, was a blend of open-mindedness and pragmatism. He was willing to invest a little time in exploring opportunities, but he also paid close attention to how things evolved day by day.

"It's important to know when to say when," Chris emphasised. "So when it was with one of the opportunities specifically that really wasn't going to work out, okay, that's the moment when I decide I'm not going to spend any more time or effort working on that."

But how did he decide which opportunities were worth pursuing in the first place? Chris's answer revealed a thoughtful, holistic approach to decision-making.

Facing the Challenges

Despite his successes, Chris didn't shy away from discussing the significant challenges facing healthcare professionals today. As he detailed the administrative burdens and systemic issues plaguing the field, I could sense a mix of frustration and determination in his voice.

The statistics he shared were sobering: Half of all current medical students have no intention of practising medicine. As Chris spoke about these issues, I found myself grappling with the implications. What does it mean for the future of healthcare if those training to be its future leaders are already disillusioned?

The Path Forward

As Chris looks to the future, he remains committed to driving positive change in healthcare. He continues to seek out leadership opportunities that allow him to influence the direction of healthcare delivery and policy.

But regardless of his formal title, Chris's mission remains the same: to create a healthcare system that truly serves patients and supports healthcare professionals.

From that five-year-old dreaming of becoming a doctor to the seasoned healthcare leader he is today, Chris has never lost sight of his core mission: to heal, to help, and to make a difference.

As our interview concluded, I was left with a profound sense of hope. In a healthcare landscape often overshadowed by challenges, Dr. Lillis's commitment to positive change serves as a powerful reminder: as long as there are dedicated advocates like him in healthcare, progress is possible.

Chris's Wisdom:

• Prioritise self-care through exercise, sleep, mindfulness meditation, and diverse interests outside of work.

• Dedicate oneself to lifelong learning and accept there will be many instances of being wrong.

• Be ready to be part of the change by acknowledging issues and speaking up when noticing problems that need addressing.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.

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